Bible readings: Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 27; Matthew 9:27-31
The First Reading of today is a prophecy about the age of the Messiah – there will be healing, restoration, justice, transformation, peace and joy. This is also true for those who have faith in the Lord and open their hearts to Him. He will restore, renew, reform and redeem them. When we allow Jesus to possess our lives, that is when we begin to live life to the full.
An example of what Jesus does is what we hear in today’s Gospel. He restores the sight of two blind people who believed in Him.
Today’s Gospel calls us to reflect on the power of God to heal us. We can also reflect on the power of faith, the importance of the virtue of obedience or even the humility of Jesus, who won’t call attention to Himself.
However, I feel drawn to challenge us today to pray that the Lord may also touch us and heal us of every form of spiritual blindness.
Spiritual blindness manifests in different ways.
I. Those who do not believe in God or accept Jesus Christ are spiritually blind. They need our prayers.
II. Those who cannot see the goodness of God in their lives and the glory of God around them are spiritually blind. When one looks at his/her life and sees nothing to be grateful for, it is a sign of spiritual blindness.
III. Spiritual blindness is not being able to see God’s image or something good in others around us.
IV. One is spiritually blind if one cannot discern matters of the Spirit or make sense of spiritual realities (spiritual ignorance – lack of spiritual knowledge), or when one’s life is governed only by what is seen. There is more to life than what can be seen.
V. One is spiritually blind when one cannot see the danger of sin or their true spiritual condition. Those who are deluded about their true spiritual status are spiritually blind.
Restoration of sight is the work of the Holy Spirit and an operation of grace. It is only by the power of God that we can truly see and see truly. Let us call to Jesus, like these two blind men, and plead with Him to rid us and others of all spiritual blindness.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on December 2, 2022.